Kenneth E. Bjerkness

MERRIFIELD - Kenneth Edward Bjerkness, age 79, of Merrifield, died on April 21, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. He was born in Crosby on April 23, 1929, to Carl and Floryce (Andrews) Bjerkness. He is a Korean War Navy veteran. He served two years in the South Pacific with 103 Seabees, two years on Leyte, Wasp and Princeton Air Craft Carriers. He is a retired Brainerd police chief with 20 years of service. He was a former M.A. Hanna Mining employee with 16 years of service. He is a member of the Myrin-James American Legion Post No. 443, Ironton, life member of the VFW Post No. 1647, Brainerd, life member of the DAV, Chapter 22 Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brainerd, life member of Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association.

He is survived by special friend, Judy Rogge, Merrifield; four sons, Owen (Caralee) Bjerkness, of Brainerd, Keith (Sandy) Bjerkness, of Rochester, Keith "Whitey" Bjerkness, of Little Falls, Neil Case, of San Francisco; three daughters, Lois Ann, Point Pleasant, N.J., Holly McGee, of Venice, Fla., Debra Case, of Bemidji; two brothers, Dale (Clarice) Bjerkness, of Deerwood, Pedar (Cathy) Bjerkness, of Hazen, N.D.; two sisters, Carol (Tom) Biever, of Deerwood, Nancy (Rick) Dahnke, of Palmdale, Calif.; sister-in-law, Leona Bjerkness, of Deerwood; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Emily; three brothers, Richard, Carl and Donald Bjerkness; four sisters, Jean Mongan, Shirley Wahlers, Mary Jenkins and Phyllis Enemark.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cascade United Methodist Church in Deerwood. Burial will be at Lake Edward Township Cemetery with full military honors given by the Brainerd VFW. Friends may call Friday at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday one hour prior to the service at church.
To Subscribe to the Brainerd Dispatch, Click Here.